Each interview will be different and one must prepare for every interview individually. Most interviewers focus on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Employers, therefore, gather specific examples of your job related capabilities by concentrating on actual performance during the interview. That’s why it is important to develop a strategy to help you prepare for as many situations as you can anticipate.

Develop Your Strategy Based On Type of Interview
Common Types of Interviews

The Behavioral or Situational Interview: These types of interviews are commonly used by employers to mine information relevant to your competency in a particular area or position, so it is extremely important that candidates prepare examples for typical questions ahead of time. For instance, you might be asked to describe a time that required problem-solving skills, adaptability, leadership, conflict resolution, multi-tasking, initiative or stress management. You also will be asked how you dealt with the situations.

To maximize your responses in the behavioral format:
     • Anticipate the transferable skills and personal qualities that are required for the job.
     • Review your resume. Make sure any of the qualities and skills you have included in your resume are fair game for an interviewer to press.
     • Reflect on your own professional, volunteer, educational and personal experience to develop brief stories that highlight these skills and qualities in you.
     • Prepare stories by identifying the context, logically highlighting your actions in the situation, and identifying the results of your actions.
     • Be concise, limit your answers to 2 minutes.

Afterwards, think about your answers to these three questions:
     ü What about yourself do you want the interviewer to know?
     ü What disadvantages or weaknesses do you need to minimize?
     ü What do you need to know about the job and organization to decide whether to accept this job is it is offered to you?

Before the Interview
Assuming that you have done your research and developed an appropriate interview strategy... What other details should you think about?
     l Rehearse some of your prepared answers
     l Wear a conservative business suit to the interview
     l Bring extra copies of your resume
     l Bring something to write on and something to write with
     l Bring the names, addresses and phone numbers of references if you did not put them on resume in case they are requested during the interview
     l Bring a leather folder to carry these items
     l Get to the interview at least 15 minutes early, so check your map!
     l Polish your shoes!

During the Interview
Job interviews are scary, even when you’ve prepared thoroughly. But when you are prepared, you can harness the adrenaline to work for you so that you put your best foot forward and get the job you want!

Every interview has an opening, a body and a close.
     In the opening (2-5 minutes), good interviewers will try to set you at ease. Some interviewers will open with easy questions about your major or interests. Listen carefully so you can answer later questions to show that you can do the job or contribute to the company that’s being described.

     The body of the interview (10-25 minutes) is an all-too-brief time for you to highlight your qualifications and find out what you need to know to decide if you want to accept a second interview. Expect questions that allow you to showcase your strong points and questions that probe any weaknesses evident from your resume.

     In the close of the interview (2-5 minutes), the interviewer will usually tell you what happens next:” We’ll be bringing our top candidates to the office. You should hear from us in three weeks” Sometimes the interview gives the interviewees his card and tells them to call him/her. In this case, close with an assertive statement. For example, you may say:” I’ve certainly enjoyed learning more about the company”.

Successful interviewees will do the following:
     ü Be specific and consistent about the position they wanted
     ü Refer to the company by name four times as often as unsuccessful interviewees
     ü Make it clear that they have researched the company
     ü Express approval of information provided by the interviewer nonverbally and verbally
     ü Make eye contact often and smile
     ü Answer positively and confidently, and back up the claim with an example
     ü Accept topic shift by interviewer
     ü Use technical jargon when it can be supportive or it is necessary
     ü Ask specific questions based on knowledge of the industry and the company
     ü Take control of interview

You may check out our website for sample questions (coming soon) that are commonly asked by employers and the appropriate ways to answer them.

After the Interview
After a first interview, send a thank you letter to reinforce positives from the first interview, to overcome any negatives, and to get information you can use to persuade the interviewer to hire you.

A letter after the office visit is essential to thank the employer for their time, interest in your candidacy, and hospitality. A well-written letter can be the deciding factor that gets you the job.

The letter should:
     l Remind the interviewer of what he or she likes in you
     l Counter any negative impressions that may have come up at the interview
     l Use the jargon of the company and refer to specific things you learned during your interview or saw during your visit
     l Be enthusiastic
     l Refer to the next move, whether you will wait to hear from the employer or whether you want to call to learn about the status of your application

Good luck with your interviews, may everyone get the job they desire!!